/pic4458123.jpg)
Box art via BoardGameGeek
Wingspan
A calm little game about birds that tables get weirdly competitive over.
Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave · 2019
It looks like a pretty game that might be hollow. It isn't. It's quietly one of the best gateway games out there.
Best for: Couples, and tables where the skill levels are all over the place
What it is
Wingspan looks like the kind of pretty game that turns out hollow once you actually sit down with it. It isn't, and that's the nice surprise. You're filling a wildlife preserve with birds, and every bird you play makes your next turn a little better. That slow build, the moment your board starts doing the work for you, is the whole appeal.
The catch
What makes it special is how kind it is to people. Nobody gets knocked out, nobody falls so far behind they check out, and the worst night you'll have is a slightly less impressive flock than the person beside you. So it's a great pick when someone swears they don't like board games, and it still holds up for players who take everything seriously.
Who it's for
If your group lives for taking and blocking and going for the throat, Wingspan will feel a little polite. That's a fair complaint. But for a warm, thinky evening where everyone leaves having built something they're a bit proud of, very little does it better.
More from the shelf
All reviews/pic6973671.png)
Azul
Lovely tiles, simple rules, and a surprising amount of quiet cruelty.
/pic9156909.png)
Catan
The one that started a thousand game nights, and one or two genuine arguments.
/pic8937637.jpg)
Ticket to Ride
Claim train routes, hoard cards, and quietly ruin someone else's plans.